Copyright (c) 2025 Mostafa Hamkar

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The Influence of Student–Teacher Rapport on Master’s Degree Classroom Dynamics
Corresponding Author(s) : Mostafa Hamkar
Journal of Social Sciences and Humanities,
Vol. 2 No. 4 (2025): October
Abstract
This study investigates the influence of student–teacher rapport on master’s classrooms, emphasizing its role in fostering engagement, participation, and academic development. The research problem addresses the limited scholarly attention given to student–teacher rapport in postgraduate education, despite its recognized importance at other academic levels. Employing a qualitative research design, semi-structured interviews were conducted with three professors from Kabul Education University and eight master’s students from Kabul Education University and Kabul University. Thematic analysis was used to interpret participants’ experiences and perceptions of rapport. The findings suggest that strong student–teacher relationships may contribute to a more interactive and psychologically supportive learning environment, potentially enhancing students’ motivation and reducing academic stress. Furthermore, the study identifies several strategies for developing and sustaining rapport, including personalized feedback, active listening, and encouraging student participation. Although the small sample size (N = 11) limits the generalizability of the findings, this is consistent with phenomenological research, which emphasizes depth of understanding over breadth. Additionally, as data were collected only from face-to-face classrooms, hybrid and online interactions were not examined. Nevertheless, the results provide valuable insights into the significance of student–teacher rapport in graduate education and offer practical guidance for creating inclusive and engaging learning environments.
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- Astin, A. W. (1999). Student involvement: A developmental theory for higher education. Journal of College Student Development, 40(5), 518–529. Retrieved from. Link
- Bardorfer, A. (2024). Fostering students' active participation in higher education: The role of teacher–student rapport. Athens Journal of Education, 11(3), 227–246. https://doi.org/10.30958/aje.11-3-4 DOI: https://doi.org/10.30958/aje.11-3-4
- Batson, C. D. (1991). The altruism question: Toward a social-psychological answer. Lawrence Erlbaum Associates.
- Braun, V., & Clarke, V. (2006). Using thematic analysis in psychology. Qualitative Research in Psychology, 3(2), 77–101. https://doi.org/10.1191/1478088706qp063oa DOI: https://doi.org/10.1191/1478088706qp063oa
- Creswell, J. W., & Poth, C. N. (2018). Qualitative inquiry and research design: Choosing among five approaches (4th ed.). SAGE Publications.
- Deng, Z., Du, T., Deng, K., Lin, L., Li, S., & Wang, Z. (2024). Small class discussion–based teaching: Enhancing the research ability and engineering thinking of graduate students in the field of instrumentation. Higher Education Research, 9(6), 176–185. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.her.20240906.15 DOI: https://doi.org/10.11648/j.her.20240906.15
- DeJonckheere, M., & Vaughn, L. M. (2019). Semi-structured interviewing in primary care research: A balance of relationship and rigour. Family Medicine and Community Health, 7(2), e000057. https://doi.org/10.1136/fmch-2018-000057 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1136/fmch-2018-000057
- Estepp, C. M., & Roberts, T. G. (2013). Exploring the relationship between professor–student rapport and students’ expectancy for success and values/goals in college of agriculture classrooms. Journal of Agricultural Education, 54(4), 180–194. https://doi.org/10.5032/jae.2013.04180 DOI: https://doi.org/10.5032/jae.2013.04180
- Fassinger, P. A. (1995). Understanding classroom interaction: Students' and professors' contributions to students' silence. The Journal of Higher Education, 66(1), 82–96. https://doi.org/10.2307/2943921 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/00221546.1995.11774758
- Frisby, B. N., & Martin, M. M. (2010). Instructor–student and student–student rapport in the classroom. Communication Education, 59(2), 146–164. https://doi.org/10.1080/03634520903564362 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/03634520903564362
- Hou, G. (2024). Correlation among teacher ICT teaching, teacher immediacy behaviors, teacher–student rapport, and student engagement in smart classroom teaching. Sustainability, 16(21), Article 9592. https://doi.org/10.3390/su16219592 DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/su16219592
- Jaasma, M. A. (1997). Classroom communication apprehension: Does being male or female make a difference? Communication Reports, 10(2), 219–228. https://doi.org/10.1080/08934219709367677 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/08934219709367677
- Marentič Požarnik, B., & Plut Pregelj, L. (2009). Moč učnega pogovora: Poti do znanja z razumevanjem [The power of learning conversations: Paths to knowledge with understanding]. DZS Publishing House.
- Mellgren, A. D. (2020). How teacher–student rapport impacts student academics and achievement [Master’s thesis, Bethel University]. Link
- Vasileiou, K., Barnett, J., & Thorpe, S. (2018). Characterising and justifying sample size sufficiency in interview-based qualitative research. Perspectives on Medical Education, 7(1), 91–97. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40037-018-0424-1
- Vygotsky, L. S. (1978). Mind in society: The development of higher psychological processes (M. Cole, V. John-Steiner, S. Scribner, & E. Souberman, Eds.). Harvard University Press.
- Weaver, R. R., & Qi, J. (2005). Classroom organization and participation: College students' perceptions. The Journal of Higher Education, 76(5), 570–601. https://doi.org/10.1353/jhe.2005.0034 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/00221546.2005.11772299
- Wilson, J. H., Ryan, R. G., & Pugh, J. L. (2010). Professor–student rapport: Relationship to student attitudes, behavior, and achievement. Teaching of Psychology, 37(4), 246–251. https://doi.org/10.1080/00986283.2010.510976 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/00986283.2010.510976
- Zhou, Y. (2022). A theoretical review on the role of positive emotional classroom rapport in preventing EFL students’ shame: A control-value theory perspective. Frontiers in Psychology, 13, Article 977240. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2022.977240 DOI: https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2022.977240
References
Astin, A. W. (1999). Student involvement: A developmental theory for higher education. Journal of College Student Development, 40(5), 518–529. Retrieved from. Link
Bardorfer, A. (2024). Fostering students' active participation in higher education: The role of teacher–student rapport. Athens Journal of Education, 11(3), 227–246. https://doi.org/10.30958/aje.11-3-4 DOI: https://doi.org/10.30958/aje.11-3-4
Batson, C. D. (1991). The altruism question: Toward a social-psychological answer. Lawrence Erlbaum Associates.
Braun, V., & Clarke, V. (2006). Using thematic analysis in psychology. Qualitative Research in Psychology, 3(2), 77–101. https://doi.org/10.1191/1478088706qp063oa DOI: https://doi.org/10.1191/1478088706qp063oa
Creswell, J. W., & Poth, C. N. (2018). Qualitative inquiry and research design: Choosing among five approaches (4th ed.). SAGE Publications.
Deng, Z., Du, T., Deng, K., Lin, L., Li, S., & Wang, Z. (2024). Small class discussion–based teaching: Enhancing the research ability and engineering thinking of graduate students in the field of instrumentation. Higher Education Research, 9(6), 176–185. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.her.20240906.15 DOI: https://doi.org/10.11648/j.her.20240906.15
DeJonckheere, M., & Vaughn, L. M. (2019). Semi-structured interviewing in primary care research: A balance of relationship and rigour. Family Medicine and Community Health, 7(2), e000057. https://doi.org/10.1136/fmch-2018-000057 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1136/fmch-2018-000057
Estepp, C. M., & Roberts, T. G. (2013). Exploring the relationship between professor–student rapport and students’ expectancy for success and values/goals in college of agriculture classrooms. Journal of Agricultural Education, 54(4), 180–194. https://doi.org/10.5032/jae.2013.04180 DOI: https://doi.org/10.5032/jae.2013.04180
Fassinger, P. A. (1995). Understanding classroom interaction: Students' and professors' contributions to students' silence. The Journal of Higher Education, 66(1), 82–96. https://doi.org/10.2307/2943921 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/00221546.1995.11774758
Frisby, B. N., & Martin, M. M. (2010). Instructor–student and student–student rapport in the classroom. Communication Education, 59(2), 146–164. https://doi.org/10.1080/03634520903564362 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/03634520903564362
Hou, G. (2024). Correlation among teacher ICT teaching, teacher immediacy behaviors, teacher–student rapport, and student engagement in smart classroom teaching. Sustainability, 16(21), Article 9592. https://doi.org/10.3390/su16219592 DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/su16219592
Jaasma, M. A. (1997). Classroom communication apprehension: Does being male or female make a difference? Communication Reports, 10(2), 219–228. https://doi.org/10.1080/08934219709367677 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/08934219709367677
Marentič Požarnik, B., & Plut Pregelj, L. (2009). Moč učnega pogovora: Poti do znanja z razumevanjem [The power of learning conversations: Paths to knowledge with understanding]. DZS Publishing House.
Mellgren, A. D. (2020). How teacher–student rapport impacts student academics and achievement [Master’s thesis, Bethel University]. Link
Vasileiou, K., Barnett, J., & Thorpe, S. (2018). Characterising and justifying sample size sufficiency in interview-based qualitative research. Perspectives on Medical Education, 7(1), 91–97. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40037-018-0424-1
Vygotsky, L. S. (1978). Mind in society: The development of higher psychological processes (M. Cole, V. John-Steiner, S. Scribner, & E. Souberman, Eds.). Harvard University Press.
Weaver, R. R., & Qi, J. (2005). Classroom organization and participation: College students' perceptions. The Journal of Higher Education, 76(5), 570–601. https://doi.org/10.1353/jhe.2005.0034 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/00221546.2005.11772299
Wilson, J. H., Ryan, R. G., & Pugh, J. L. (2010). Professor–student rapport: Relationship to student attitudes, behavior, and achievement. Teaching of Psychology, 37(4), 246–251. https://doi.org/10.1080/00986283.2010.510976 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/00986283.2010.510976
Zhou, Y. (2022). A theoretical review on the role of positive emotional classroom rapport in preventing EFL students’ shame: A control-value theory perspective. Frontiers in Psychology, 13, Article 977240. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2022.977240 DOI: https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2022.977240
Accepted 2025-10-28
Published 2025-10-31